I was looking for Hazlett. I’ve done (well, too me at least), enough roofing jobs that I think I know better. I have physically done about 50 shingle jobs; perhaps 15 of them reroofs (usually 5-7 layers on some of these houses), with tear-off, the rest new constructin. And I’m good. Okay; I used to be good. My personal best is about 3 sqare an hour, alone, laying and nailing by hand (love my Estwing roofing hammer). With my buddy ‘throwing’; we got up to 6 an hour with air-power. But those low-slopes (under 10/12), kill my back.
I’ve been out of the business (contracting), for about three years now. Here’s the situation; my own home; added porch; original 20-year ASPHALT shingles look like hell; lots of algae growth; improper color, visually poor installation. Shingles themselves are in excellent shape. Shingles were shipped to Michigan from Maine a part of a kit. But; to make them blend with new porch, and to have a more ‘aesthetically pleasing’ shingles need to get replaced. Home is 14 years old. Shingles (from what I can tell from removing portions to attach porch), are in excellent, very well sealed position. They look good (from a structural standpoint). No deteioration.
My mind says to tear off all of them, down to the roof deck, and then replace them with bosses (wife), preferred shingle; 40 year Certainteed Architectural. But….everyone I explain my plan to says I’m nuts (that is….they think I should just shingle over).
In my mind; the best jobs are ones where you strip it down to the bare substrate, and go from there. I don’t know for sure, but I have a feeling, from what I’ve seen, that ‘reshingle’ jobs simply don’t last as long.
Now, at my advanced age, I’d love to do a shingle-over, but I’m not sure that’s right. It nags at me. I’ve never actally done a second layer.
So what do you think? Should I do a shingle-over or start from scratch on this one?
Replies
Go with your gut feeling. You said you had never done a second layer before why start now? No roof needs the extra weight. I've been in const. 15 years and only shingled over once, and that was against my advice. They don't lay as nice and I don't think they last as long.
Edited 8/26/2005 5:21 pm ET by oldcheese
Your own home? Going to live there for many years?
Do the strip-off and sleep well afterwords!
"A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." Robert Frost
Think long term and consider what the boss wants. Sure a shiingle over is easier now but what about in fifteen or twenty some years? If you do a roof over now, you'll have to pay for a double tearoff in your eighties. I would tear off and lay the best shingle I can afford so that they outlast me. Morbid but thems the facts. Another thought would be to tear off now, roof and then in ten years do it again. Why? Because if it seems likely that the boss will outlive you, then by putting on a new roof again will save her that expense if she needs to sell after you may have "moved on". My statements come from experience where I had to do a double or more tearoff for an elderly widow. We didn't get payment for months because we knew that the expense put her in a bind-grocery bill, perscription bill or roofing bill. I know that we even wrote off a few jobs as pro bono. It's a tough situation and I would do what I can to avoid it. Pay now rather than you(or wife) paying later.
LOL!
Alright, alright, alright. You bastards (just kidding).
I knew what the right answer was all along. I was just hoping, ya know. Everyone is right. Time to grab a pair and get the shingle shovels out, I guess. Guess that one day job just became a little bigger; but don't they all? If nothing else, I know how the roof is made; so that's a real good thing.
So; I'll supply the beer. What time are you guys showing up?
Oh; and let's talk about ridge vents for a moment, if you don't mind. Around here, they sell that Cobra roll out Brillo stuff; which I just don't like. Anyone got some opinion on Cor-A-Vent? Something like the XT5? I'm impressed by what I've seen at shows; looks like plastic corrugated cardboard.
I never worked with Coravent but I hated the Cobra. It's squishy and so when nailed down the nails over pinch making the ridgeline wavy and unprofessional looking. I liked the Benjamin Obdyke Rollvent. It lay nicely, the mesh firm enough to lay the caps smoothly and the wrap fabiric did a good job of keeping out the yellow jackets. I also installed the rigid plastic vents (Mastervent I think), very nice if pricey. The caps lay over it very well of course and it has the quality and thickness which tells me I probably could remove in twenty some years and re-install and it would be good to go. Another good thing about the Rollvent brand is each roll comes with a coil or two of 2" roofers which workind nicely in a Bostitch or Hitachi coil roof gun.
When venting the ridge keep in mind it won't work very well without a soffit vent, the ridge is the outlet with the soffit being the inlet. Also insure the attic space is well insulated on the floor(that being the story below's ceiling) or your winter heat will exit the ridgevent. If the attic is properly insulated but the summers still keep the attic Africa hot, consider a powerfan which runs off of a thermastat.
Since this your home and you intend to stay don't skimp on the accessories. Use commercial grade edge-metal-it's a thicker gauge. Make sure the ice @ water shield covers at least 24" past the inside of the exterior walls. Depending on your overhang that may mean two runs. Consider 30# felt nailed down; I rolled it out with a stapler but then would go back and nail it off- three nails per rafter, two between the rafters along the bottom edge, every 4-6" at endlaps(hand nail as a gun tends to shoot through the paper and for God's sake don't use a wafflehead hammer!). Run the eavemetal, then I&W, felt then rakemetal. I also was paranoid about protrusions, flashed walls, valleys and such and would giftwrap them with I&W shield after the felt was down. That I&W shield can make a poor roofer into a good one, and a good roofer into an impressive professional.
I've since transitioned to trim carpentry so it takes a bit to get me back on the roof- a keg of Guiness and a pig on a spit! Good luck and let me know how the work went.
Shingle Vent II... best ridge vent on the market
OABTW... if your current roof is tight. and they're laying flat.. i'd definitely consider a layover
what is your wildest guess about how long you will own/ live in the house ?
if it's say 30 years... i'd do a layover with Certainteed Landmark TL.. break the edge back.. overlay a new drip edge on the rakes and eaves... use new plumbing stavke vent flashes..
1 3/4" nails .. and a stack install..
you will certainly get more than 30 years out of that roof... and you and I both know that two layers in not excessive at all
if the roof was a problem roof.. or the existing is cupped and falling apart.. then i wouldn't hesitate to strip and reroof... but if you catch a roof early enough in it's lifecycle, there is no reason to strip.. just overlay it
but hey, whadda i no ?
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore